Dear Vincent Massey Families, 

 

As we prepare for our first Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Test this coming Thursday, I want to provide a little context, both on the "PATs" specifically and regarding end-of-year assessment in general.  

 

These tests provide a snapshot of how well students are meeting provincial curriculum expectations at a particular point in time. They are just one of many tools we use to evaluate and support student learning. While they offer valuable data about individual and group achievement in core subject areas, they are not the sole measure of a student’s ability or success. Daily classroom assessments, projects, observations, and teacher feedback play more significant roles in understanding and supporting each child’s learning journey. The results of the PATs help inform school planning, guide instructional decisions, and ensure that we are meeting the diverse needs of our learners. At the provincial level, the data contributes to broader educational planning and accountability. We encourage all students to approach the PATs with a positive mindset and to do their best, but we also remind them — and you — that these assessments are not 'high-stakes tests'. They are part of a balanced approach to assessment that supports continuous growth and improvement. 

 

Similarly, for our Grade 7 and 8 students, teachers will use a variety of tools to assess student learning across the school year. The Alberta curriculum includes not just knowledge outcomes but also skills and attitudes that support continued learning across all subjects. While there will be some unit tests in the coming weeks (which are important and worth studying for!), teachers will also provide opportunities for deeper reflection and application of skills across curriculum. A few examples of this are highlighted in our upcoming events below. 

 

Before getting to those calendar events, I wanted to thank all our badminton coaches for their time and commitment to our many, many badminton players. Grade 7's completed a Vincent Massey sweep of divisionals this past Tuesday and Wednesday evening, with another 36 match wins! We look forward to the track meet on June 5, as our final interschool athletic event of the year. 

 

I also want to thank Mr. Hall, Ms. Laurendeau, and particularly Ms. Ruttle, for their leadership of our Grade 9 Heritage Trip. While I was unfortunately unable to make the celebration event this past Wednesday evening, I heard great things from students about this experience and their learning. 

 

Looking ahead to next year, we hope to offer the following similar enrichment opportunities in the spring of 2026:  

·                     Grade 9 Heritage Trip; Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City; tentative dates May 3-8; focus on Social Studies, French and Indigenous language and culture 

·                     Grade 8/9 Sailing Trip; Victoria and Gulf Islands; either March 9-13 or April 6-10 to be confirmed; focus on Science 

·                     Whistler Band Festival for Grade 9 (and maybe some 8) band students; Whistler, BC; April 22-27 

·                     Sunshine Coast Backpacking; Grade 8 students in Outdoor Leadership extracurricular program; May 20-30. 

All these trips are to be confirmed based on booking availability and interest. We will have a meeting in early fall for interested families. However, as there are significant costs involved with these trips, we wanted to give our current Grade 7 and 8 families advance notice so that you can plan ahead and start conversations about priorities for next year. 

 

In the more immediate future, here are your key dates for the remainder of the school year: 

  • May 26 – Grade 9 Band mini-tour to feeder schools 
  • May 26-May 30 – Grade 7 Science and Social Studies in-school and community walk learning with Experience Metis 
  • May 28 – Fun Lunch 
  • May 29 – ELA Part A Provincial Achievement Test (Grade 9) 
  • June 2 – Grade 9 Riverwatch Environmental Science rafting trip for 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-7, & 9-9 Homerooms 
  • June 3 – Grade 9 Riverwatch Environmental Science rafting trip for 9-4, 9-5, 9-6, 9-8, & 9-10 Homerooms 
  • June 4 – School Council Meeting year-end meeting, 6:30-8 in the Learning Commons 
  • June 5 – Track and Field Meet, full day at Foothills Athletic Park 
  • June 6 – Stampede Marching Bands presentation to band classes 
  • June 10 – Grade 9 Outdoor Ed bike trip 
  • June 12 – Vincent Massey Music Parent Association meeting at 6:30 in the Band Room 
  • June 13 – Grade 9 Math Part A PAT 
  • June 16 – Grade 9 ELA Part B PAT 
  • June 17 – Grade 9 Math Part B PAT 
  • June 18 – Grade 9 Social PAT 
  • June 19 – Grade 9 Science PAT 
  • June 23 
    • Grade 9 Farewell Ceremonies 
    • Grade 8 Calaway Park 
    • Grade 7 Edworthy Park 
  • June 24 – ODL Celebration BBQ 
  • June 25 – Report Cards available for viewing in PowerSchool 
  • June 26 – Last day of school, early dismissal (12:42), Yearbooks distributed 

 

All the best, 

David Pugh 

Principal